The former A-team listed Dutch Grand Prix dressage horse Vingino has finally been sold after a one-year legal battle between owner Margriet van Beelen, the rider Tommie Visser, and buyer Valentijn van Weering.
After Tommie Visser started to gain much international success aboard the 13-year old Dutch warmblood Vingino (by Polansky x Variant x Uniform) at the beginning of 2014, owner Margriet van Beelen wanted to sell her horse. A dispute arose between the owner and Visser, which led to a scuffle at Visser's yard in April 2014 involving the police after shots had been fired. The horse was seized by the police and later released to the owner.
Since then a long-winded legal battle took place in The Netherlands about the horse. Visser tried to acquire the tall gelding via a sponsor, but a sale failed to come through. He also filed a damage claim of 2.3 million euro against Van Beelen.
In August 2014, Vingino went into training at Laurens van Lieren's yard in Schore, The Netherlands, to be prepared for a sale. For a moment, the horse was rumoured to be sold to the United States but that never materialized.
At the beginning of April 2015 the news became public that Dutch FEI rider Valentijn van Weering had bought Vingino and already paid the deposit. Van Beelen, however, changed her mind and refused to sell, which led to another legal procedure. A summary procedure was scheduled, but the lawyers of Van Beelen and Van Weering came to an agreement last weekend before the court date.
Van Weering is now officially the new owner of the horse and he has picked up Vingino, who was originally named Vennegoor STV by his breeder. Today Valentijn shared a photo on his Facebook of him riding the horse at his yard in Velsen, The Netherlands.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
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Tommie Visser Submitted to Dutch A-Team